Which of the following is not characteristic of cognitive impairment?

A. An acute medical condition is the most likely cause of delirium. Delirium is typically a temporary, acute confusional state that results from an underlying medical condition, such as infection (e.g., urinary tract infections), dehydration, medications, or metabolic imbalances. Delirium is often reversible once the underlying cause is treated.
B. Progressive deficits in memory of condition refers to conditions like Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, where memory loss is gradual and progressive over time. This is not characteristic of delirium, which usually occurs suddenly and may involve a fluctuating course of confusion.
C. Plaques found on the outside of dead and damaged neurons is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and certain other neurodegenerative disorders. These plaques, made up of amyloid-beta protein, are not associated with delirium.
D. Progressive nerve degeneration describes the pathophysiology of chronic conditions like Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, where there is a gradual decline in cognitive function due to nerve degeneration. Delirium is an acute condition and does not involve the progressive degeneration seen in these diseases.

A. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system, but it is not the most common cause of dementia. While some people with multiple sclerosis may develop cognitive changes, it is not a primary cause of dementia.
B. Brain injury can result in cognitive impairments and changes in memory, but it is not the most common cause of dementia. Traumatic brain injury may lead to a type of dementia known as post-traumatic dementia, but it is relatively rare compared to Alzheimer's disease.
C. Huntington chorea (also called Huntington's disease) is a genetic disorder that leads to progressive movement, cognitive, and psychiatric problems. It can cause dementia, but it is a much less common cause compared to Alzheimer's disease.
D. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for the majority of cases. Alzheimer's is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects memory, thinking, and behavior, ultimately impairing a person’s ability to perform daily activities.